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A political legacy under scrutiny: Sonia Gandhi reflects on Indira Gandhi's Emergency decision and its consequences. (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has described the imposition of the Emergency in 1975 as a mistake, suggesting that even former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi eventually recognised the consequences of her decision. In her forthcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, Sonia offers a rare account of the political and personal divisions within the Gandhi family, revealing how Rajiv Gandhi opposed the move while his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi strongly advocated it.
The revelations have brought renewed attention to one of the most controversial chapters in India's political history, particularly as the Congress continues to face criticism over the Emergency and its impact on democratic institutions, civil liberties and constitutional freedoms.
In an interview with a leading British daily ahead of the release of her memoir, Sonia Gandhi reflected on the circumstances surrounding the Emergency, which was imposed by Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975.
Sonia believes that although Indira was responsible for the decision, she was never entirely comfortable with the restrictions imposed during the period. She suggested that the political consequences of the Emergency weighed heavily on the former Prime Minister.
Sonia also indicated that Indira eventually understood the seriousness of the situation and attempted to address its consequences. According to her account, the former Prime Minister later acknowledged the excesses committed during the Emergency, publicly expressed regret and apologised.
The memoir also examines the influence exercised by Sanjay Gandhi during this turbulent period. Sonia believes that keeping Sanjay's political activities and influence under control could have prevented much of the damage associated with the Emergency.
One of the most significant revelations in Sonia Gandhi's account concerns the differences between Indira Gandhi's two sons over the decision to impose the Emergency. According to Sonia, her husband, Rajiv Gandhi, advised his mother against taking such a drastic step and suggested that she should wait until the next general election.
Sanjay Gandhi, however, favoured a tougher response to the growing Opposition movement. Sonia's account describes a family dinner during which Sanjay reportedly argued that the Opposition needed to be stopped, warning that its activities could destroy his mother's political position.
Rajiv attempted to challenge his mother's decision, but Indira did not accept his advice. The disagreement reportedly intensified tensions within the family at a time when the country was witnessing mounting political unrest.
Sanjay Gandhi, despite holding no formal Cabinet position or constitutional office, emerged as an influential power centre during the Emergency. His proximity to the Prime Minister gave him considerable political authority, and his interventions became closely associated with several controversial government initiatives.
In a separate interview with a leading Indian English daily, Sonia Gandhi clarified that Sanjay Gandhi alone should not be held responsible for the decision to impose the Emergency. She pointed to pressure from several senior Congress leaders, suggesting that Indira Gandhi was surrounded by political colleagues who supported a tougher approach towards the Opposition. According to Sonia, only a limited number of people, including Rajiv Gandhi, offered a different perspective.
Her observations provide a more nuanced account of the political calculations behind the Emergency, indicating that the decision emerged from a combination of internal party pressure, political instability and the Prime Minister's response to mounting challenges.
The Emergency was imposed against the backdrop of widespread protests, Opposition mobilisation and a major judicial setback for Indira Gandhi. On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court set aside her election from Rae Bareli over electoral malpractices, creating an unprecedented political and constitutional crisis.
The judgment intensified demands for her resignation, while Opposition leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan, mobilised protests against the Congress government.
The Emergency, which continued from June 25, 1975, until March 21, 1977, witnessed sweeping restrictions on democratic freedoms and a significant expansion of executive authority. Opposition leaders were arrested, political activities were curtailed, press censorship was imposed and fundamental democratic freedoms came under severe pressure.
Sanjay Gandhi became particularly controversial because of his involvement in the government's population-control drive and urban redevelopment initiatives. The forced sterilisation campaign, popularly known as nasbandi, became one of the most criticised aspects of the Emergency. Several people were subjected to coercive sterilisation measures, triggering widespread public resentment.
The demolition of unauthorised settlements, particularly in parts of Old Delhi, also attracted considerable criticism. These drives displaced vulnerable communities and became emblematic of the excesses associated with Sanjay Gandhi's influence.
Sonia Gandhi acknowledged that she became fully aware of the extent of the restrictions and abuses only after the Emergency ended. She also pointed out that democratic rights had been curtailed and habeas corpus protections suspended during the period, although the measures were introduced through the constitutional framework then in force.
The suspension of habeas corpus remains one of the most consequential legal and constitutional controversies of the Emergency, particularly following the Supreme Court's controversial 1976 ruling in the ADM Jabalpur case.
Sonia Gandhi also reflected on the circumstances from Indira Gandhi's perspective, suggesting that the former Prime Minister was struggling to deal with an increasingly volatile political environment. The period witnessed violent protests, attacks on government offices and public transport, widespread organised unrest and calls for sections of the bureaucracy and armed forces to disobey government orders.
Sonia believes that the passage of time provides a more comprehensive understanding of the political circumstances in which Indira made the decision. On January 18, 1977, Indira Gandhi announced fresh parliamentary elections and ordered the release of political prisoners.
The decision effectively opened the way for the restoration of electoral democracy. However, the March 1977 Lok Sabha elections delivered a historic defeat to the Congress. Indira Gandhi lost her Rae Bareli seat, while Sanjay Gandhi also suffered an electoral setback in Amethi.
The Janata Party, which brought together several Opposition groups, emerged victorious and formed the government under Morarji Desai. The Emergency was formally withdrawn on March 21, 1977, bringing an end to nearly 21 months of extraordinary constitutional restrictions.
Beyond the Emergency, Sonia Gandhi's memoir and interviews also revisit another defining moment in India's political and social history: the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.
The CPP Chairperson recalled being deeply distressed after watching the demolition on television. The incident reinforced her belief that the country faced a prolonged struggle to preserve its secular constitutional foundations. She reflected on the political and ideological legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders who had worked towards building a pluralistic and secular India.
Sonia also acknowledged that the Congress had contributed, through its own political failures and complacency, to the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the expansion of Hindutva politics. Her assessment suggested that the party had adopted a relatively relaxed approach towards emerging political developments and had failed to respond adequately to changing political and social realities.
Nearly five decades after its imposition, the Emergency continues to shape political debates over constitutional accountability, democratic institutions and executive power in India. The BJP has repeatedly criticised the Congress over the 1975-77 period, describing it as a dark chapter in the country's democratic history.
The Narendra Modi government has also observed June 25 as Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas to commemorate the imposition of the Emergency and highlight the curtailment of constitutional rights. The Congress, meanwhile, has continued to face questions over the decisions taken by the Indira Gandhi government during the period.
Sonia Gandhi's latest remarks are particularly significant because they acknowledge the Emergency as a mistake while offering an account of the internal disagreements, political pressures and subsequent regret surrounding Indira Gandhi's decision.
Sonia Gandhi's memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, is scheduled for release on November 10, 2026. The book revisits her early life in Italy, her marriage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, her experiences within the Nehru-Gandhi family and her eventual entry into Indian politics.
It also offers personal reflections on some of the most consequential political developments in modern India, including the Emergency, the Babri Masjid demolition and the Congress party's changing political fortunes. The memoir is expected to attract considerable attention for its first-hand perspective on the Gandhi family, its internal political differences and the historical events that shaped India's contemporary political landscape.
